The exact number of vampires on Earth, according to the best estimates of ARCADE, is somewhere between "too many" and "just enough to keep people mindful of what stakes and garlic are for". More serious scientific estimates generally focus on individual communities and the number of vampires resident within, with the numbers typically ranging between 1 vampire per million living residents for a region such as Freedom City, generally viewed as relatively untainted by this supernatural predator, up to 1 vampire per hundred thousand living residents for the Chicago area, known for decades to have a serious problem. The matter is somewhat complicated by ongoing academic debate as to what sort of monsters qualify under the header 'vampire', with many not resembling the stereotype created by film and derivative media.

The overwhelming majority of vampires, especially of those fitting that stereotype, are PL6 threats -- a serious danger to an innocent bystander, a dangerous opponent to an individual novice monster hunter, but more or less a non-factor to an experienced monster hunter or a typical superhero. These creatures often have many more dangerous vulnerabilities and complications than powers -- the documented tendency of vampire flesh and blood to ignite and be reduced to ashes with seconds of exposure to direct sunlight is near universal among these creatures, for example.

On the other hand, one of the most frequent limitations of more powerful vampires is rarely found among them. They are typically able to limit their consumption of blood to that of animals other than humans. Most do not, but even they are able to 'feed' on blood to a much lesser degree than more powerful vampires, such that they can meet their needs without killing a human being. Again, many vampires on this level do kill their victims, but the existence of vampires who (for example) obtain their blood supply through consensual exchanges with knowing partners has led some theoreticians to view them as a more tolerable evil than others.

Experience and a willingness to experiment with the vampire condition can give rise to PL7 or PL8 vampires who still retain this level of humanity, but it is more common for aged vampires to lose it with time. PL9 or PL10 vampires are typically elder vampires who have existed for centuries and no longer bother to feel any sympathy or compassion for humans. More rarely such levels of power are found among relatively young vampires who possess unusual strength of will or supernatural affinities -- but even so, it is rare for them to be able to feed without killing. Some of these, such as Nightrage, develop codes of honor that permit feeding on certain "acceptable" targets, such as criminals.

Given how easily it is to trespass against such codes, it should come as no surprise that more powerful vampires almost never have any such compunctions. PL 11 vampires are typically "master vampires", often able to exert direct psychic or supernatural influence over less powerful examples, especially those who descend from them. They are quite rare, each representing a combination of experience, intelligence, willpower and magical aptitude that is seldom encountered in humanity. There may be no more than one such creature for every hundred million living human beings, or even fewer. Dracula is exceptionally powerful even among this level of creatures, and may be the most powerful vampire active at this time.

But there are far more powerful vampires than Dracula, entities of the category of monsters dubbed Elder Evils which are, thankfully for human civilization, not active in the world today. Understandably, little if anything is conclusively known about their whereabouts or numbers, which are thought to be less than one in a billion living human beings. Perhaps the only hopeful thing that can be said about them is that they would no longer be able to subsist on human blood, but most likely require that of other vampires or other supernatural or superhuman entities. On the other hand, they might require "life energy" from thousands or even millions of humans, drained without any contact. The notion of such a being going to and fro in the world, walking up and down in it, or perhaps driving a cab, haunts the nightmares of those aware of the possibility of their existence.

Blame Kevin Siembieda, but I like the idea of a vampire as a Cthuloid menace that will tax even mighty superheroes. It also draws a bit from the idea of the Antediluvians as being these thousand and million year old beings that no longer even resemble humans.

As mentioned here, many of the "original" Olympian gods fought and fell in the battle known as Gotterdammerung (fought largely in the Pacific, c. 535 CE, and marked by the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa in that year) only to be replaced by younger gods who took their names and roles in the Olympian hierarchy. This 'new' Dodekatheon ("twelve gods") has remained stable since then, despite occasional squabbles that have been largely undocumented by Earthly chroniclers.

Zeus: The original Zeus was apparently slain in the final instants of Gotterdammerung, though there is no living witness to his demise, which has led to speculation that he might have faked his own death. This seems unlikely as much of his divine power settled on his heir, formerly known as Dionysus, immediately after the battle's conclusion. The new Father of Gods and Men has largely settled into his role as King of the Universe, and is a calmer, more measured ruler than even his father was. On the other hand, he still has moments of great pettiness and is perhaps overly fond of ambrosia, the wine of the gods. Zeus is a PL16 deity known for his Dimensional Perception Damage attack, "the Thunderbolt".

Hera: The original Hera led the hosts of the Amazons during Gotterdammerung, and was slain with them in the battle's early stages. Her role as Queen of Heaven was promptly assumed by her daughter Hebe, formerly the wife of Heracles. (The two amicably separated sometime in the last century before the common era, and remain friends, though as Hera she is happy to cause trouble for him when she believes he's being an ass.) Hera is a PL15 deity with many Perception Range mental powers.

Poseidon: The original Poseidon was killed leading an army of Atlanteans during Gotterdammerung, and was succeeded by his son Triton. The new Lord of the Seas is much like his father, but lacks his interests in earthquakes and horses. He is probably the most active of the gods on Earth-Prime, as he still receives worship from the Atlanteans, many of whose rulers and heroes claim descent from him. Poseidon is a PL15 deity with Perception Range Move Object Limited to Water and related powers.

Demeter: Demeter, one of the two goddesses trusted with guarding the gates to the Olympian realms during Gotterdammerung, was overcome during the enemy assault on those gates. She was succeeded by one of the elder anthousai (nymphs related to flowers) whose original proper name is not recorded. The new Demeter has something of an inferiority complex concerning her humble origins, and a poor relationship with the original Demeter's daughter Kore, whose role as Queen of the Underworld kept her from assuming her mother's station. Demeter is a PL13 deity with plant control powers.

Hestia: The other goddess trusted with guarding the gates, Hestia survived the battle and is now the eldest of the Olympian deities. Unlike most of them, she shows her age and seems like a crone among the elder adults and youths of the panttheon. However, she is also known for her wisdom, and has become one of Zeus' chief counselors, especially in the long absences of Athena/Minerva. Hestia is a PL X deity who is connected to the Secret Fire; she cannot be permanently harmed while Olympus itself exists.

Hades: Hades initially refused to take part in Gotterdammerung, but in what is now officially considered a complicated feint, attacked the enemy at the last moment and ensured victory. He was outraged that, as the eldest surviving son of Cronus, he did not receive the power of Zeus, and returned to his kingdom to brood. Ever since he has sought to seize that power for himself. Hades is a PL15 deity who is described in Freedom City 3e. He can be used as a model for most of the other deities. Ah me so clever!

Apollo: A survivor of Gotterdammerung, the loss of his sister and the advancement of his old rival Dionysus have embittered Apollo, as has the more recent gradual turning away of civilization from 'classical' (read Greco-Roman) influence. He has become a schemer seeking to diminish the influence of 'foreign' cultures (particularly African and Asian) on that civilization, and thus something of a sponsor of white supremacy and misogyny as well. Apollo is a PL14 deity whose "arrows" are Dimensional Perception Range effects.

Artemis: The original Artemis was killed in Gotterdammerung, and succeeded by one of her hamadryad followers. She has done her best to live up to the example of her mistress, but has no interest in friendly relations with her mistress' brother, whom she has lately come to view as a mad god whom she opposes to the best of her abilities. She has often lent her assistance to the mortal Minerva in dealing with Apollo's schemes. Artemis is a PL13 deity with a very high Ranged Attack.

Athena: The exact fate of the original Athena is unclear, as she was with Zeus in his final fight. Someone who appeared to be Athena returned to Olympus a few years after the end of Gotterdammerung, satisfying every test of her identity, but claiming amnesia concerning the battle and preferring to go by the name Minerva. Lately she has abandoned godhood to become a mortal on Earth, causing some chaos on Olympus. As a deity, Athena was PL15.

Ares: Ares survived Gotterdammerung, but his absorption of the energies of his sons Phobos and Deimos, who did not, made him something of an outcast afterwards. The lack of any war facing the Olympian gods left him with nothing to do, and he reportedly found the wars of humanity over the next millennia 'tedious repetitions'. The attack of supervillains on Mount Olympus recently energized him, however, and he has been paying close attention to the battles of heroes and villains every since. Ares is a PL15 deity with a focus on personal combat.

Aphrodite: The lone member of the original Dodekatheon who took no part in Gotterdammerung, she left Olympus for an extended period after Hebe's ascension, leading to rumors that she had expected to become the new Queen of Heaven. Her behavior since returning has certainly contributed to such rumors, as she acts as a critic of every choice made by either Zeus or Hera. The recent invasion of Olympus has lent her criticism some weight ... Aphrodite is a PL16 deity who hides her full power.

Hephaestus: The original Hephaestus perished in Gotterdammerung on one of his few journeys out of his workshop. He was succeeded by one of his sons, the Norse god Volundr or Wayland, who continues to act as a forge god for the Asgardians as well as the Olympians ... and anyone else who can afford to pay him his fees. Rumor has it that he contracts out work to the Foundry ... Hephaestus is a PL15 deity who has plenty of PL15 minion robots.

Hermes: The original Hermes was with Athena and Zeus in their last fight, and is likewise believed to have perished there. His power descended to one of his undocumented children by the goddess Hecate, who has since acted as the 'wizard' of the Olympian gods, behaving more like the Egyptian Tahuti or Thoth than the god of messengers and thieves. Hermes is a PL15 deity who possesses magical ability much like a Master Mage, with effects resembling The Wizard of Speed and Time.

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August: Toxic is released from Prison and joins the Ex-Cons, as they're now called, just in time for Wainwright's discovery about what Rant and Rave get up to when nobody's watching. Soon after this, the Alterniteens arrive on Earth-Prime.

September: The Freedom League go on an adventure in time, leading to their journey to the Vampire Earth and resulting in the Old Man being stranded in the present. He eventually becomes the first voluntary member of the Ex-Cons.

November: Shortly after a falling out with her grandmother, Seven quits her post at Claremont Academy and forms the Seven Shadows.

2007
February: Lady Tarot is apparently killed in a bombing orchestrated by the Silencer. Foreshadow begins considering forming a team of Freedom Knights, which comes into being over the next few months.

March: Panda and Raccoon are sent back to jail after it's revealed that they're continuing their criminal activities while acting as members of the Ex-Cons. (In fact they were framed by Thunder and Lightning.)

May: Fredrik Zane presents an assassination attempt against Changeling of the Alterniteens, and is exposed as a psychic. Swiftly arrested and convicted of financial malfeasance, he spends months in a cold white room.

November: The Gathering, leading into the start of the Crime League's attempt to steal the power of the Olympian gods. Soon after this begins, the original Next Gen disband in the wake of the events called Graduation Day.

2008

January: Olympus Falls, but rises again. Dr. Stratos and Medea are both missing and presumed dead.

February: The second Next Gen team forms, led by Elite and numbering Glasya Lebolas among its members. Around the same time, Robin Greyfaulk is arrested for her part in a series of tech robberies.

July: A group of Average Joes in Freedom City are empowered and begin having wacky adventures. Shortly after this, the Ex-Cons are sent on a mission to Belarus and thence to a parallel world where they fight Omega and win. Yes really.

August: AEGIS Director Horatio Powers is transformed into a paperweight, and he is temporarily replaced by Senior Agent Edward Ritter. Also, the tensions between the various factions of the Freedom City mob finally boil over, and outright war is declared between the Oliverti and Driogano families. Big Al Driogano is assassinated by the Silencer, the Silencer is exposed as Don Oliverti's brother, and Don Tonnifanni becomes the leader of Freedom City's mob with assistance from the mysterious Capoyabun, though he is challenged by the returned Tarot. The Freedom Knights part company from Foreshadow.

September: Project Freedom's Team B is disbanded due to a mission gone wrong, and its paroled personnel are transported to be imprisoned in Buckner Ridge. However, this is all part of a secret operation conducted by AEGIS. The members of Team B are able to uncover the criminal activities committed by the prison's staff and defeat their agents, as well as exposing the cartel behind the prison. They are reinstated after this success.

October: Project Freedom comes under attack from a variety of individuals who have grudges against them collectively and individually, who have all gained superpowers from an unknown source. While they are dealing with this, one branch of the Meek launch an all-out assault against Project Freedom's headquarters. In the process, everyone on both of Project Freedom's teams learns about the Terminus portal in the basement. Later, Team B is caught up in a sequence of terrifying events at Providence Asylum that result in the apparent death of Dr. Ashley Ellis, the destruction of most of the asylum and escape of many of its prisoners, and the summoning of an Elder Evil known as the Lord of Bitter Laughter. Their failure to prevent any of this is spun as a failure on the part of other heroes, such as the Freedom League, to inform the city administration of the possibility of these events.

November: On election night, as it becomes apparent that Jonathan Grant will be the next mayor of Freedom City, Wainwright asks her people to accompany her on an invasion of the Terminus. She has acquired a powered armor suit from Japan, made friends with it, and will be using it in the invasion, whether anyone come with her or not. The fate of Project Freedom is decided. Ultimately, Wainwright sacrifices her life to send the survivors of her invasion force back through the gate. Some of those survivors receive pardons as a result of their participation in these events, others continue to serve as members of the Project in the grim years ahead.

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Daedelus and Taurus both fought in Gotterdammerung -- though their paths didn't cross -- and so they're aware of the outcome, as was Medea. Talos may or may not be aware that the Hephaestus who occasionally sends in work orders isn't the original, but wouldn't care either way.

Author's Note The central thesis of this article is not my invention. It's derived from an essay entitled "China Without Tears", by Professor Arthur Waldron, which can be found in the book What If?, in which a number of military historians engage in the by-now marginally acceptible pastime of speculating about alternate histories. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a trained historian of any type, and am utterly ill-equipped to critique Professor Waldron's theories. So I have made no attempt to do so; instead, I have stolen it whole and put a mild spin on it, just as I have done with the works of others throughout this thread. However, those others are free, as Professor Waldron is not, to tell me to shut my yob. Hence my acknowledgement. Thank you, Professor Waldron. Where I am at best a pretender to scholarship, you are the real deal.

Throughout the continuum, the one great enemy of all parachronic explorers, the one foe which has united forces from Alpha and Prime and from other, less well-known worlds, is the species known as the Ygadthhh in their own language. To speakers of modern English, they are better known as "alien space bats". These perverse entities apparently possess the ability to cross omniversal barriers at will, visiting worlds and employing mind control powers to twist their histories to their own design. Whether there is any rhyme or reason to their actions is known only to them. Dr. Tomorrow once speculated, perhaps seriously, that they regard it as an artform.

In the opinion of those who visited the worldline known (to the Time-Keepers) as Earth-552 prior to its destruction, only the presence of these creatures could possibly explain the historical divergence in its history from that of Control. They were clearly present here, on at least one occasion sixty years ago, though they seem to have been unusually mild in their meddling. Still, to those familiar with the career of Chiang Kai-Shek, it seems clear that nothing else other than the intervention of the alien space bats could have made him make the decision that he made in Earth-552's history, in 1945.

With World War II ended, the struggle for control of China that had been interrupted by the Japanese invasion began once again. Chiang Kai-Shek's Nationalists, who had seized control of the nation in the 1920s, were recognized as the legitimate government of the nation, even by those powers -- such as the Soviet Union -- whom one would have expected to have preferred Mao Tse-Tung's Communists. In discussions about the fate of East Asia at the Yalta conference, Stalin had made arrangements to strengthen Russian influence in the Manchurian region, without any reference to the local Communists.

Of course, that made very little difference. Chiang's Nationalists had fought the Japanese to prevent them from conquering Manchuria, and they were hardly likely to back away from a fight with the Russians over the same territory. This became even more critical when the Chinese Communists sought to shelter under Russian protection in Manchuria. For the Nationalists not to engage the Communists would have been seen as a sign of weakness which they could ill-afford. But they were counseled to do just that by the Americans, who had no wish to see another war break out in the region, particularly one that could escalate into a conflict with the Russians.

In Control's history, the Nationalists responded to this counsel by using diplomacy to persuade the Russians to withdraw their protection from Manchuria, and then launched an invasion patterned on the one which had swept them to power twenty years before. It worked just as well this time, but before the Communists could be crushed, good-intentioned Americans once again intervened to persuade Chiang that pressing on would be a mistake. So he held back ... which proved a far more terrible mistake. The Communists were able to strike back, eventually driving the Nationalists off the continent and onto the island of Formosa, later known as Taiwan.

In the history of Earth-552, Chiang, influenced by the alien space bats, responded to American pressure far more favorably. Rather than persuade the Soviets to withdraw, the Nationalists encouraged them to remain, permitting the establishment of a pair of Soviet satellites on the northern borders of their nation. It was an insane decision; control of Manchuria was the key to an invasion of southern China, as the Japanese and the Manchurians before them had demonstrated. Tolerating such a potentially unfriendly presence as the People's Republics of Manchuria and Mongolia, as they came to be known, would have been beyond the imagination of a Chiang Kai-Shek uninfluenced by alien space bats.

Instead of an external war, the Nationalists turned to an attempt to clean up the endemic corruption that could be found within their own borders. Their success in this attempt was mixed, but they were overall assisted by American aid and by the fact that, contrary to expectations, the end of the war did not bring about a return to the Great Depression. Instead, the world economy continued to prosper. Prosperity brought its own risks, of course, but overall it was generally to the benefit of the Chinese people that Hong Kong and Shanghai both became centers of world trade.

The brief, inglorious Korean conflict might also be attributed to the influence of the alien space bats. Without the example of a victorious Chinese revolution, it's not clear why the leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung, believed that his attack against the South could possibly succeed. While Stalin authorized the attack, he didn't do much of anything to support the Koreans when the United Nations intervened. And without the support of the Communist Chinese, the counterattack that drove Kim's followers into exile in Manchuria was bound to be a success. The lesson that the Communists took from this was that the time was not ripe for the final confrontation between them and the Capitalists; better, far better, to wait until they became weak, as it was historically inevitable for them to do.

Without a Communist victory in China or a quagmire in Korea, it might seem strange that there was still a "red scare" in the United States. Perhaps the junior senator from Wisconsin was also being directed by the alien space bats, or perhaps (as some genuine conservatives believe on Control, and more do on Earth-552) he was being controlled by more mundane forces, which wished to make anti-Communism as unfashionable as possible. Or perhaps he was simply a bully seizing an opportunity.

Be that as it may, the HUAC hearings had the effect of driving most of the remaining members of the Liberty League into retirement. But new heroes would rise over the next decade to replace them. One of them, the Raven, would draw attention to a true threat to the world's safety which had taken root in Asia, as Communism had not.

French Indochina was not bordered by a Communist state, and its largely Communist insurgency against French colonial rule was not supported by the Nationalist Chinese government. In desperation, the leaders of the Vietminh made a bargain that they would come to regret -- but generally only very briefly -- in accepting aid from Doctor Sin. While his brilliant strategies and strange devices turned the tide against the French, the revelation of the Vietminh's new master robbed them of what little credit they might have had with the rest of the world. And while American heroes were reluctant to fight another war against mere human opponents, it was another matter entirely to contend with the greatest villainous mastermind of all time.

As such, the war in Vietnam wasn't the unpopular war that it became in Control's history. Far fewer troops were dispatched, and there was no draft to be dodged. American military and civilian advisors (including many from AEGIS) provided assistance to a people fighting against a genuine threat to all of humanity, rather than attempting to interfere in a civil war. Superheroes participated on a limited basis, generally at the request of the government when confronted with a particularly serious threat concocted by Dr. Sin.

It helped that there were fewer supervillains on the homefront. This could very well be because of the lack of a Terminus invasion in 1965, and the resultant absence of strange energies that could empower and transform. Of course, that also could be the reason why there were fewer superheroes. But those whom there were endured longer.

Lady Liberty never underwent the power diminishment that she did in the mainline World of Freedom. The Raven, with assistance from Daedelus, managed to develop a version of Dr. Sin's immortality serum that did not require the abominable ingredients of the original, and distributed it to his colleagues, including Dr. Atom and Jack Simmons. Daedelus himself never felt the need to explore the universe. The Star Knight returned promptly to Earth after taking Blackstar in. (Either Mentor detected the activity of the alien space bats, or he was influenced by them himself.) The Scarab never fell to the Scions of Sobek.

Nor were these the only survivors. AEGIS agents, supplementing President Kennedy's secret service protection, discovered Lee Harvey Oswald's sniper nest minutes before the president's limousine arrived at Daley Plaza. (Either there was no second shooter, or he fled when it became apparent that Oswald had failed.) Kennedy's two term presidency was followed by that of his younger brother, who continued the civil rights reforms begun in the second term.

The space race was the source of some tension between the two super-powers, but overall it served to demonstrate American technological superiority. Sadly for some utopian theorists, the lack of wars did not result in more resources being provided for the space programs, which achieved only the same milestones that they would have in Control's history. On the other hand, computer technology progressed every bit as rapidly, despite the lack of a pressing need for a computer network that could survive thermonuclear war.

Outside of Asia, the lack of a genuine panic about the spread of Communism had some additional benefits. The United States never felt the need to preserve and support regimes whose sole virtue was that they were fervently anti-Communist, nor remove those who appeared tempted towards that ideology. Iran's left-leaning secular government was never overthrown in favor of the domination of the Shah, for example, leading to benefits that could never have been anticipated. That said, there was more will to fight Communism when it really did appear, as it did in Cuba.

While some muttered about a dynasty when the third Kennedy brother (having never gone near a place called Chappaquidick) was elected in 1976, his term would prove to be the most trying. The Communist Chinese republics collapsed in 1978, despite Russian support, and were quickly annexed by the stable Nationalist republic. Panicking, the Russians invaded Afghanistan. Without the history of Korea and Vietnam behind them, however, the United States had more than enough will to fight to defend this region. On the other hand, having not spent a great deal of effort to support those wars, the Russians appeared to be in better shape as well.

The war lasted until 1984. Fortunately, it never went nuclear, nor were the supers of either sides asked to intervene. (Officially, at least.) It ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Iron Curtain. Learning from the example of China, the United States remained in Afghanistan to assist in the reconstruction, ensuring that neither the dangerously fanatical mujahedeen nor the amoral warlords had too much influence in the post-war government of the region. Teddy Kennedy's vice president, a Georgia peanut farmer and pacifist, presided over the breakup of the remains of the Soviet empire, declaring that a new world order had begun to emerge.

The Freedom League, now composed largely of immortals (or at least the very long-lived), never broke up. Despite some tense moments in the 1980s, there was never an "Iron Age" when heroes were outlawed or unpopular. Archer came under the Raven's influence, moderating his temper and never needing to engage in deadly combat. Again, there was no Terminus Invasion in 1993. The Labyrinth's attempts to make superhumans were less effective, possibly as a consequence. Although Doctor Metropolis did eventually appear in Freedom City, Johnny Wade and Ray Gardener never developed superpowers.

This was the homeworld of Centuria, where the Silver Age lasted forever. Heroes were heroes, and villains were villains. She was born in 1994, after the science of genetics was finally advanced enough to identify and correct the problems that Mark Leeds and his equally immortal wife, Laurie Leeds, were having in bringing a child to term. Tragically, the much smaller number of heroes who existed on this world were unable to save it when the Terminus did invade, in 2010, with Katie Leeds being the only known survivor of this world's destruction ...

Author's Note: Just like the earlier timeline, this one will be subject to modification, and is currently in a bare bones state to avoid copying too much copyright material from Freedom City 3e.

2009
April: Robin Greyfaulk is forced to take over the running of Grey Capital when her father goes to prison for eight years.
June: The second team of Next Gen disbands. A third team, led by Crater and including Bank Shot, forms by the end of the month.
September: Still reeling from his exposure to Pretty Princess Loli-chan's Love Magic the year before, and occasional attempts to duplicate the experience with chemicals, Doc Otaku takes advantage of his 18th birthday to make a clean break from his juvenile delinquency ... for now, anyway.

2011
March: Bert Roland, the Scarab, becomes the single father of a boy named Benjamin.
April: Robin Greyfaulk gives birth to a daughter, Caroline.
September: Minerva returns to Earth-Prime and meets Yuuki Yukimura, who soon learns her secret identity.

2012
March: Minerva becomes active as a superhero in Olympia, Washington.
April: Project Freedom expands to establish a new B-Team. Duncan Summers passes away after a brief illness. The third Next-Gen team disbands.
May: Nick 'Nero' Rourke becomes a member of Project Freedom's A-Team.
June: The Silver Storm occurs in Emerald City. The Sentinels form.
July: Veterans of the original Project Freedom work with Project Freedom's B-Team on a case that results in the resurrection of Zalman.
September: Destruction of Magna-Lor. Fourth Next-Gen team is established.
October: Providence Asylum reopens its doors.

2013
January: Stratos (no longer referring to himself as "Dr. Stratos") escapes from Tartarus and takes control of the Crime League's East coast operations away from Conundrum. The current Crime League team (as described in Freedom City) forms around him.
February: First wave of alien refugees arrive on Earth. Not long after, Captain Thunder is depowered and his son transformed into Thunderbolt.
April: Ray Gardner Sr. becomes the new Bolt and helps to form the Old Guard with the help of Caliburn, Grandmother Raven, and Slipstream.
May: Murder of Sarah Grant.
June: Murder of Jonathan Grant. Soon after, Gravity Master retires from superheroics after getting stabbed through the hand when his force field is down.
July: Exposure to dumped mutagenic chemicals creates the Stray Patrol.
August: Seven becomes the Master Mage, but is soon trapped as the Dark Lord of the Netherworld. The position of Master Mage becomes vacant. Zalman begins questing to regain his magic.
November: Dr. Silverback joins the Old Guard, and soon discovers Slipstream's condition.

2014
February: The Steel City Angels make their debut in Ferroburg.
May: Ethan Keller is cleared of the most serious charges against him, and begins a four year sentence of public service, operating once again as Arrow and as a member of the Old Guard.
September: Elite becomes the third Raven with Callie Summer's blessing. Around the same time, Michelle Darling is installed as the new headmaster of Claremont Academy.
November: Callie Summers becomes Mayor of Freedom City, defeating Jonathan Grant's deputy mayor (also a pawn of the Labyrinth) and a third party candidate sponsored by the Rhodes Foundation.
2015
April: The fourth Next-Gen team disbands.
June: Actor and former secret agent Sir Christopher Lee passes away. Oddly, soon afterwards, rumors of an 'unredacted' version of the novel Dracula begin to circulate, and the Raven discovers that the very real Dracula is active in New York. Around the same time, the Sentinels raid the headquarters of the Vanguard. Also, Hieronymous King announces his intention to become the Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2016.
July: Toxic gives birth to her and Zane's child, Billie.
August: Aeron Gwynn, better known as Druid, is murdered by Blackthorn.
September: The fifth Next-Gen team (described in Hero High, Revised) is established.
October: Project Freedom is called in to act as security for an attempt to exorcise the Silver Scream which predictably gets completely out of hand.
November: Destruction of Collapsar by the Freedom League, the Sentinels, and a group of starfaring adventurers known as the Star Raiders.

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